Export-Oriented Capacity Building Programme for FPOs, FPCs and Progressive Farmers Organized at ICAR-CRRI 
ICAR–Central Rice Research Institute (CRRI), Cuttack, in collaboration with the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India, organized an Export-Oriented Capacity Building Programme for FPOs, FPCs and Progressive Farmers on 25 September 2026 at ICAR–CRRI, Cuttack. Around 120 participants representing various stakeholder groups attended the programme, which aimed to strengthen export preparedness among farmer organizations, with emphasis on quality compliance, certification, processing, value addition and market linkages.
Dr. G.A.K. Kumar, Director, ICAR–CRRI, emphasized the need for regular capacity-building programmes with effective follow-up, preparation of a compendium of export-oriented FPOs and FPCs, and practical training involving different stakeholders to strengthen their roles in promoting agricultural exports. Dr. Biswajit Mondal, Principal Scientist, ICAR–CRRI, delivered the welcome address.
Shri Sitakanta Mandal, Regional Head, APEDA–Kolkata, highlighted APEDA’s initiatives for promoting agricultural exports. Experts from IEDS–MSME, DGFT, seed certification agencies, AORMA, Department of Agriculture, Palladium India Pvt. Ltd., ATARI–Kolkata, and FPOs from across Odisha shared insights on export procedures, certification, packaging, processing, value addition and promotion of rice, millets, horticultural and fisheries products in domestic and international markets.
Dr. Pradip Dey, Director, ATARI–Kolkata, emphasized the importance of developing export-oriented commodity clusters, while Dr. Sutapa Sarkar, Senior Scientist, ICAR–CRRI, highlighted the Institute’s contributions to export-oriented rice research.
The programme provided a valuable platform for interaction among researchers, policymakers, industry representatives and farmer organizations to strengthen agricultural value chains and explore new opportunities in domestic and international markets. The programme concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Dr. Supriya Priyadarshini, Scientist, ICAR–CRRI.
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